The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-06-03


sons to die upon the field of battle.
Some of you remember Captain Wax
enshaw. How delighted We were and
relieved to know that we had one man
who was learned in the art of war. lie
drilled the first company raised in
Owosso. And how it did march The
now old fashioned commands are still
ringing in my eirs, "File right, march,
"On the right by file into line, march"
I heard then for the first time the com.
mand 10 march by flank. We heard a
good deal of that word flank after that.
We would learn that this or that Gener-
al had, or was about TO march on the
flank OF the enemy. /, in my ignorance,
wondered why they did not quit march
ing by the flank and fight battle. l
was at the train when our first COM
mand went away to make that record
we are all so proud ofeven 10 this day.
The first wounded soldier ever saw
was Lieutenant w. X. Tillotson ofthe
5th Mich. Infantry. He was brought
home to us with shattered arm. Then
for the first time realized that going TO
the war was serious matter.
The names Of Dan and David Wyker,
after all these years, often come to my
mind What jolly brave fellows they
were The first Grand Army Post in
Owosso was named in hunor of them
and their heroic deeds. One of them
fell in battle aud the other starved to
death in Il southern prison. We can for
give but ndt forget
Then there were James, Luther and
| Orin Drawn familiarity known us the
Drawn boysA They, like the three guards.
| men were stalwart and brave, and gave
| their lives TO their country's cause.
Ofcourse l cannot forget George Ingcr
| soil. If he frightened the rebels half as
| much as he did us little fellows while at
school he must have done his whole
duty. But all honor to his memory.
| He fell with his face to the foe and to-
| day sleeps in an unknown grave.
In giving these names one cannot but
| recall some of those who are still with
us. The first time l saw comrade Wa
ters was soon after he had received
scalp wound from minnie ball lie did
not seem to care half so much about il
as he did that his favorite Little Mac"
was removed from command When
Capt. Il. p. Byerly appeared before me
emblazoned with the golden stripes Of
Cavalry bngler, my ambition was
heightened TO become soldier by what
seemed TO me then to be gorgeous
uniform But we heard from that bu-
ger if not from the bugle. 1t was not
often that man entered the service rs
a. tbugler and came home a Captain. l
distinctly recollect seeing in uniform
Capt. Al. Patterson, Lieutenant Chase,
Major Cook, Comrades John Comstock,
Case, Crane, Carson, ]. w. Turner and
VIM. Smith.
Now as l marshal those veteran
troops in my mind can also see the
well-known forms Of Lieutenants Il. l..
Brewer and G. Y. Osburn, both of whom
were compelled 10 leave their regiments
OH account of wounds received at the
front. 'sit"
The sight of Theodore Odell's crutch
was reminder 10 us all that the struggle
had been a terrible one. May his sacrifices
and heroic deeds i've long in the memory
| of this people.
give these few brief "reminiscences as I
myself remember them. But there are
thousands of Sons of Veterans who saw
more of the war than did. They bear
witness with me that, for better or worse,
their lives and characters for the future
were moulded by those stirring events.
| Do you wonder then that the Sons of Vet
Grams rally TO the support of the soldier?
The news of the battle brought con-
fusion of hopes and fears. When the re-
port of the victory at Shiloh was received
IN Owosso all was joy and uproar. The
| people gathered In the streets to hear the
news. The band was there l remember.
and blew an accompaniment to the read
| ing of lengthy dispatch which was read
| by man upon u high box. But as he
| 20 &c
| to fall upon the excited crowd-first one
horn ceased and then another. and soon all
| was SILENT The streets were quickly de-
serted, by The people, who went home
wondering whether there had been vS'
tory or not, so great was the loss.
During the Gettysburg campaign, we,
here at home, waited long and anxiously
| for news from the loved ones who were SO
successfully fighting among the blue hills
and golden harvest fields of Pennsylvania.
l, in my boyish anxiety to bring comfort
to those at home. waited many an hour at
the telegraph office for the promised dis.
patch, to be sent if all went well. AT last
II came. This is the way 1t read: "Was
in battle nearly all day yesterday; but
came off Scott free. The Shiawassee
boys are all safe.' / ran quickly home
with my good news, but was hndered by
this or that one inquiring after friends,
In speaking of running as / remember it,
am of the opinion that made no faster
time than Mr.. Dewey did when he hasten.
ed to his mill, a day or two after. to raise
the flag upon the receipt of the news Of
the surrender of Vicksburg That very
night news of more serious nature came
and in a short time we had our little squad
OF wounded men home with us, bringing
assurance to the people that the defenders
OF the Union had at last won two decisive
victories. Ufsl IsniGHc a0i NH7
8 Such is the remembrance of only one
son of a veteran. 'siA Y8' Il sid1
OF the soldiers and comrades of Quack-
enbush Post with whom have become
acquainted since uniting with the Sons. of
Veterans, on the part and behalf of Gen.
II. A. Alger Camp No. 30, / can only
thank you for the kind and fatherly care
and friendship you have ever extended to
the members OF our ORDER And IL is the
constant aim OF the Sons of Veterans to so
live and act In such manner as will make
them In reality band OF brothers worthy